A Focus on Peatlands and Peat Mosses

Description

Series

A Focus on Peatlands and Peat Mosses surveys the fens and bogs of the Upper Midwest, examining how plant life is directly affected by coldness, waterlogged peat accumulations, and habitats that become progressively more acidic and mineral poor. Other topics explored include classification of peatlands, nutrient cycling, and the detailed taxonomy of peat mosses.

"With the increased awareness, especially in the last two decades, of the importance of wetlands in the landscape, many people have felt the need for a book covering all aspects of peat and peatlands. This book fulfills that need, and does so wonderfully." —Barbara J. Madsen, Michigan Botanist

"There is no question that A Focus on Peatlands and Peat Mosses is first-class. It represents the definitive work in the field and will remain so for the foreseeable future." —James A. Larsen, University of Wisconsin

Look Inside

Contents

Chapter 1. Fens and Bogs, the Peat-Storing Wetlands 1Chapter 2. The Origin and Development of Peatlands 29Chapter 3. Peatlands Plants and the Tonic of Wildness 57Chapter 4. Nutrients in Scant Supply 111Chapter 5. Life in a Wet Desert 141Chapter 6. Peatland Archives 163Chapter 7. The Nature and Use of Peat and Peatland 177Chapter 8. A Close Look at Peat Mosses: A Bryologist's Vademecum 201Glossary 277Bibliography 285Index 299